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Recovery projects

21K views 65 replies 29 participants last post by  MsDebbieP 
#1 ·
Whitetail Deer

Since I seem to blog about every other woodworking thing I do, I figure I might as well do so with my "recovery projects." Hopefully, it will help me see my progress in some concrete way.

So today I spent my limited shop time setting up for a scroll saw project. I had to set up my Dremel tool in it's drill press jig so I can drill my starter holes, picked out my blades and found a piece of stock.

I've chosen a project from "North American Wildlife Patterns for the Scroll Saw" by Lora S. Irish called "Pine Tree Path" depicting a White Tail Deer. I would prefer to do this project on 1/2" material - but the closest I have is 3/4". I picked out a piece of walnut that I had left over from a cabinet project. The piece is large enough that I'll be able to do this deer and another small project.

I'm limited to about 15-20 minutes a day to start so this is as far as I got today. Tomorrow I'll attach the pattern with spray adhesive and drill my pilot holes.

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This is a pretty simple project so it should be a good one to get me a little bit back in the swing. I can't wait to make a little sawdust!
 
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#5 ·
I hope you keep the blog going on this one. It will be great to watch this unfold. I love watching the projects from start to finish some day I may try to do a blog on one of my projects but then I was going to do a review of my dust collector also and have not found the time for that either. Maybe soon
 
#6 ·
Thanks all.

MsDebbie--I picked a pattern that was mostly "outside" cutting and less inside stuff to ease me into it again.

Woodnut-- I plan to keep the blog going simply as a way to keep me going. Nothing like a little accountability via the WWW.
 
#7 ·
Beginning my scroll saw projects - getting started

So now I start working on my first recovery project. As you know, I selected a project that does not have a lot of cuts. I figure this will help me ease back into making sawdust.

Scroll saw work requires the same eye to detail as other forms of woodworking.

First is material preparation. As you can see from this picture, I'm using 3/4" stock, but this stock has some planner marks. Some would argue with me on this point, but even though you are going to be cutting away a lot of this material you still want to get rid of the marks before you start. With scroll saw work this is even more important because once you cut out the project, you have lots less material to sand-- and often delicate parts that would break if you had to sand too much.

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Generally, I would clean up the material with a hand plane. But because I'm not supposed to be doing much pushing and pulling, I'm going to use some 220 grit paper to clean up the walnut.

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After cleaning it up, just like preparing for finishing, you want to get rid of any dust. This is important because any dust will keep the spray adhesive from sticking. I use mineral spirits to clean up the wood. The spirits also will show up any large scratches, etc.

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The piece has a large scratch-but it is outside the pattern so it's not a problem for this project.
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Next is the set up of the saw itself. You want to saw straight lines, just like any saw. Set the table square to the blade. A small square is perfect for this.

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Tensioning the small blade is very important. I test my tension by making some test cuts. I simply draw a bunch of straight lines on a scrap piece.

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Then just start sawing, adjusting my tension as I go. When it's straight - I'm good to go. (I usually start on some pine to practice a bit, then will do a test cut in my project wood.)

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I use 3M spray adhesive to attach the pattern to my work piece. It's best that with spray adhesive to either spread out some newspapers or spray in a box. I use a deep box, this way the spray can is held down deep in the box and any overspray is contained.

I do not use a heavy hand on the spray glue-- there's no sense to.

After I apply the pattern to my work piece; I use a sharpie to mark my starter holes so they are easier to see when I'm drilling. You can see that I also marked on this pattern two arrows that show the delicate parts that I will cut out last (solid arrows). Then I also marked out (with dashed lines) where I would start the cut and the direction I'll follow.

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You'll notice that I plan to start under the delicate parts on the right side and move down the body and up and around the trees. Then I plan to make another entry cut along the rocks on the bottom left and move up around the horns and blend into the first cut. I do this for several reasons. One is that I'm a bit clumsy so that I have a tendency to break off those delicate parts so I try to keep those attached to as much material for as long as I can. Secondly, the delicate parts are harder to cut and takes more time.

After I do my markings, I then cover the pattern with clear packing tape.

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The reason for the tape is that the heat from the saw motion melts the adhesive in the tape creating a lubricant which makes the blade run smoother and giving you a better cut. If the blade cuts smoother, the blade will also last longer.

Next is on to actually drilling out the pilot holes. I use my Dremel set up in a drill press.

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After drilling you can really see the tape on the project.

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Well I've used up my 20 minutes of shop time for today. Tomorrow, I'll get to do some actual cutting!!!!!
 
#21 ·
Starting to cut

So tonight I used my 20 minutes of shop time getting the small cuts made.

One thing I failed to mention in my first entry was in mounting the blade. Some of the blades are hard to tell which way is up and down. If you run your fingers up and down the blade-- your fingers will snag on the teeth - use that as a clue. The teeth go down.

Another thing to keep in mind - is having a good light. I've got a lamp set up by my saw, but it's not the best set up. I'd prefer to have one of those overarm lamps that you can move up and down. But I'm not really set up for this type of thing right now.

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When you start cutting out your pattern you want to start small. In other words - cut out the smallest details first. You do this because, let's say, that the first thing you do is cutout the background and then move to the details - you have that much less to hold onto while moving the piece around under the saw. For a project like I have here it's not that big of a deal. However, if you are doing a fret project where there is a lot of small detail-- you'll be glad you started small and moved up.

You'll also notice as you look at the picture below-- the area around the neck for sure. When I cut out the outline you will see there is going to be very little left when the cut is finished. That's going to be a delicate thing. If I were to cut the outside first and then the inside cut - I'd have a potential for breaking that. That seems counterintuitive. But think of it this way. Say you are cutting the inside cut and you overcut past the line. When you then do the outline you can fudge a bit and cut outside the line making the leftover the same size as if you had cut both cuts correctly. I hope that makes sense.

This is all I've gotten cut out today.

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The next thing I'll do is to use small sandpaper pieces and/or some small files to clean up the small cuts. I do this now before I do the big cut for the same reason as above. I have more to hold onto right now.

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My demented dog Lucy-- says to say Hi!
 
#30 ·
Back at it a little bit

Well - I've managed to get my first scroll saw project done. I've been off LJs for a while simply because I can't be on the computer so much at home when I spend so much time on it at work. My neck just won't tolerate the computer use. But that's getting a bit better. I am now allowed to sit in a chair and move around a little bit without my neck brace and I'm allowed to sleep without it. So that's all good. I can go about 2 hours before my neck needs the brace to give it a rest. I figure I'll have to move into the "brace-free" lifestyle a little bit at a time.

So here are the pictures of my scroll saw project.

I think is where I left off on my last blog entry. I'm starting the make the outside cut. I chose to start at the base of the neck then move to the right. This allowed me to leave the antler's for last.

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Here shows my outline.

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You can see here - I've cut out the majority of the outside of the elk and am working on the antlers. The first picture shows a bit of burning on the top of the antlers. This will be cut away. But I got the burning because I went a bit to fast cutting and I don't have the right blade for this particular project.

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So now everything is cut out and it's time to take off the pattern. You'll remember that I used a light spray adhesive to put the pattern onto the walnut. You can pick at the pattern with your fingernails and do OK getting it off. You can also use a small amount of mineral spirits to remove it, but I prefer to use a hair dryer. The heat melts the glue and the pattern peals right off.

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You can see here how easily the pattern came off - almost completely in one piece.

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And finally the piece. I've not put a finish on it yet.

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And last but not least-- my biggest cheerleader-Lucy.

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Hope you are all well. I've been lurking around and you guys sure have been a busy lot!
 
#36 ·
Thinking about Christmas gifts

Well despite getting better by the day, I'm quite sure I won't be up to doing a lot of Christmas gifts this year. That's a bummer as it means I may have to buy gifts-- YIKES!!!!! I prefer to make all my gifts. Anyway, I'm trying to think of fast easy things I can make that will still be appreciated.

Have any of you made these trivets?

http://www.newwoodworker.com/tstrivets.html

They look pretty easy and fast. I'm also thinking that a smaller version of these could possibly be made into a coaster if put into a "tray" that would absorb the moisture.

What other ideas would you give? I am sure I'll be back in the machine shop at least by Thanksgiving. I'm also thinking of taking a pen turning class to brush up on that, but I'm not a big fan of turning. Any ideas would be appreciated.
 
#37 ·
I did some with the router table once. I totaly screwed them up but it was really my first router table project (or first project that required more than a hand saw and hammer). They where very quick to make and really very practical gifts. I gave one to my mother and the other to my mother-in-law. Both use them all the time. Here is The Router Workshop where I got the idea. Just scroll down to "Trivets Trivets Trivets". I also just made a puzzle with 8 penny nails and 3 pieces of 3/4 stock that is pretty cool for older kids. I hope to have it posed in the next day or two.
 
#43 ·
Getting the tools ready again

OK so now I know I'm really on the mend. I'm planning, planning and planning some more!

First thing I know I need to do since most of any major projects for a while will be hand tool stuff (with the exceptions of those trivets I want to try on the router table), I decided that I need to make sure my tools are sharp, clean and ready to work.

With all that in mind - I've collected my sharpening things, my chisels and educational materials to prep myself to actually work wood.

So here is my "sharpening station" with some of the things I use. I've got the water bin in the back, the diamond lapping plate to flatten the faces of my water stones, my three stones (1,000; 4,000 and 8,000) along with the naguna (? spelling) stone and my jewlers rouse for my leather strop. And, course, some guides to use.

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As for educational materials-- these should give me a good refresher course. I've actually read/watched them all before, but since I have not used any of it for a while - thought I'd peruse all of it again.

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Of course, what would a little educational perusing be without a glass of refreshment (complete with straw since I can't bend my neck enough to drink like a real person) and the requisite NFL in the background.

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Then there's still Lucy-- looking forlorne and lonely-- not really - she's being camera shy

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So off I go.
 
#50 ·
Even a beater needs a little attention

Just puttering around with sharpening tonight. I found this old beater in a box while looking for something else. Thought I'd give it a little attention.

I honestly don't know what I was using this for that made it in such bad shape-- but, if nothing else, it proves I was at one time working on something!

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Five minutes working through 80 - 220 grit - got all (OK most) the crud off

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I prefer to use my waterstones for most of my sharpening - but the beater seemed like a good candidate for the Work Sharp. Since I don't have a grinder-this is the next best thing. I could not imagine how long it would take to get the knicks out of this old guy without a grinder or Work Sharp. I started on the standard sandpaper so I did not muck up my more expensive paper on the Work Sharp.

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Is it sharp - NOPE - but it looks better. Not sure I'll spend any more time on this guy because it's a beater after all - now I have a prettier pry bar, etc.
 
#54 ·
Have decided on Christmas gifts - finally

The good news is I actually spent a little time in the power tool shop this weekend.

The bad news is that I apparently did not do the best job protecting my metal surfaces while I was recovering and I have some rust issues. Not bad rust, but still makes you sick to see it on your tools.

The little bit of time I spent in the shop convinced me that I really am a long way from doing anything complicated or heavy in terms of lifting - so nothing with a lot of heavy clamps is in my near future. I also did a tiny bit of cutting on the table saw and realized that I have not regained all of my balance necessary to push a board through the blade, so that's still not a safe option for me.

So, with all of that, I think I have settled on making long grain bread/cheese boards and trivets for Christmas gifts this year. I can do the clean up work on any rough lumber with hand planes and can do most of the rough cutting on the band saw which I feel pretty comfortable with. I'm also getting pretty good with a coping saw so if push came to shove I can hand saw out any shape. I can do the decorative edging with the router table. If I decide to do more than one flavor of wood in a board, I'll probably keep it to trim so that I'm not forcing myself into a lot of ripping. Although, I can do most ripping that I need to do on the band saw and clean up the edge with a hand plane. So that does leave open a little bit of decorative choices for me. But I do want to keep the weight down so I probably will avoid a lot of clamping.

I now have a plan and hopefully get started this week doing a few small trivets and work up from there. I was feeling pretty down that I would not be able to make as many of my gifts this year as I have in the past, but now I'm more optimistic. I think all of the girls at work will get trivets and my family will get the cutting boards. Haven't figured out what to do for the bosses this year. I still have to think on that. They have been exceptionally good to me this year considering all of my health issues, so I want to come up with something special for each of them.

As for my health - it's getting better. I've actually started driving and that's going well. It's a very liberating feeling when you can get up and go anywhere you want without having to call someone to come get you. I never realized how much I missed that. I do have to admit to being very anxious about someone hitting me again, but I'll just have to get over that. I still have some pain in my arm/shoulder and the doctor said I probably always will, but it's not debilitating, just annoying. I am much more optimistic than I have been in a long time. I get my brace off next week and that will also help. Even though I am wearing a soft brace now, it is still limiting. All in all though I am doing pretty well.

I really appreciate all of the encouragement and help I've received from my friends here at LJ's. You are the best. Be on the lookout for my upcoming projects!
 
#55 ·
Betsy, I spent a year after my accident weary of every car waiting to make a left coming toward me. Not to mention wondering if cars pulling onto the road from a side street would stop and not plow into me. It has receded now, but I'm still more cautious than ever.
 
#58 ·
Napkin rings - a good start

I'm slowly getting back into making things. I spent some time this last week getting some lumber resawn and laminating them to make these rings. I still have to sand them down and ease the edges, but since I used a little mineral spirits to clean them up - I thought I'd show how I'm coming along.

The napkin in this shot is just a paper towel as I could not find my cloth napkins.

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The close up shots you can see that I've got some sanding to do to clean these up a bit.

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I'm not completely happy with these as I think they are a bit small - so I'm thinking that I may redo these and add about 1/4" or so.

This was a nice "easing back into things" project. I'm going to keep playing with them and see how I do with them.

The idea to do napkin rings and the "design" came from "Shop-Tested Scrollsaw Techniques" From the editors of Wood Magazine, page 54.

Thanks for looking.
 
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